The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell :: Essays Papers

The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame RagnellCharacter AnalysisSir Gawain is one of the more famous Knights of the corpulent Table in Arthurian legends. Various authors have written about Gawain including the anonymous author of The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell. The reader gets to know Gawains casing through its development throughout the story. Gawain shows his virtue and courteous manner through his words and also through his actions. His physical appearance and dress are never mentioned so there are no clues to his personality in this regard. Gawains steadfast manner in the face of adversity is further testament to his virtuousness as a knight.The first glimpse we have of Gawain in the story is shortly after King Arthur returns from his hunt. Gawain is the only person to whom Arthur confides his misadventure with Sir Gromer Somer Jour. Arthurs probable trust of Gawain to carry his burden proves that he trusts Gawains counsel and that Gawain leave alone be discreet abou t the kings troubles. Gawain enforces this belief when he says, I am not that man that wold you dishonor / Nother by evin ne by moron(329). In contrast to Arthur who breaks his oath to Sir Gromer that I shold nevere telle it to no wighte(331) by hoisting his problems on another, Gawains character exhibits a more honorable disposition by immediately offering his assistance. The juxtaposition of these two contrasting characters, namely Arthur and Gawain, serves to display severally of their attributes in a clearer, more defined light. Even though Arthur does not necessarily act in a cowardly manner, neither does he quantify up to Gawains virtuous nature.After Arthurs encounter with Dame Ragnell later in the story, he returns to his home even more discouraged than when he set out. Gawain, upon meeting with the dejected king, swears that I had lever myself be dead, so not I thee(335) when he hears Arthurs foreboding prophesy that he will surely die. Gawain backs up his loyalty not onl y with mere words but with his actions as well. When faced with the prospect of taking a hideous wife to save his lords life, Gawain does not hesitate but says that he will wed her and wed her again, / Thoughe she were a fend, / Though she were as foulle as Belsabub, / Her shall I wed, by the rood, / Or ellses were not I your frende(335).